If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Tap water for neps?

I have a good freind that grows lowland nepenthes with tap water and he has been doing it ever since he got into them. And I was wondering if it is ok to do it. I just started watering my highland nepenthes with tap water less than a week ago and everything is fine, but I was wondering if the nepenthes will grow better with RO water.
The last time I checked the water was around 280 ppm

any advice is great,
Matt

My growlist was updated 4/22/09
"if you hear the pitter patter of little feet while you stare hypnotically at your plants you are in for some trouble."

Matt,
I've done it for years. But it depends on your water! If you are willing to risk the plant, then go ahead. You really won't know until you try. I don't think there are as many hard-fast rules as folks believe.
Use common sense however. If you see your plant suffering, it might be time to run fresh water thru the pot to flush out any accumulated salts (or repot if necessary), and then start using rain/distilled water. Any plant we can fertlize can tolerate a degree of "salts".
Good Luck.

Hi, Matt.
My tap water is around 100ppm and after 2-3 years, the whole potting mix needs to be changed as some species will show decline in their growth. After about 6 months, salt deposits can be observed in the saucers and around the edge of the pots. Overhead watering heavily or the occasional heavy downpour helps to flush the minerals out.

Yeah, if you use tap water, repot every year, and flush the pots through from time to time. 280ppm is pushing it. Some people get away with things, though. I know a guy who grows great nepenthes, and he uses tap water and miracle gro. Go figure.

It really depends on the chemistry of your tap water; mineral salts are part of that, but in my house, there is enough copper and zinc ions (from the plumbing) that a small drip in the shower/bath will leave a blue green streak in the fixture by th end of the day. These things are very toxic to all plants. It also depends on how you water your plants; if you add just enough water to wet the media each time, those salts will accumulate faster than if you drenched the pot, and let the wate flow though for a few minutes, flushing out the pot. - Rich